Alabama lobbyists briefed on changes to state ethics law

MONTGOMERY -- About 200 lobbyists today heard state Ethics Commission officials brief them on what's known and what isn't known for sure about changes lawmakers made last month to the state ethics law.

Among other things, lobbyists starting in mid-March won't be able to take lawmakers on all-expenses-paid hunting trips, visits to the beach, deep-sea fishing trips or even golf outings for strictly social occasions, said Jim Sumner, director of the state Ethics Commission.

But Sumner said other parts of last month's changes have lawyers warning lobbyists not to spend anything on lawmakers until new legislation or state Ethics Commission opinions resolve apparent conflicts.

For instance, one ethics bill says a lobbyist will be able to buy a public official a meal costing no more than $25, with an annual limit of $150. But another part of the bill bans a lobbyist from giving a lawmaker anything, or a lawmaker from accepting anything, ''for the purpose of influencing official action."

''The way that has been changed, I think it could essentially criminalize a lot of activities that currently are thought of as acceptable behavior," Sumner told lobbyists.

Sumner said some lawyers are recommending that lobbyists, who try to influence public officials, provide nothing, not even a $20 meal, to a lawmaker without clearer guidelines.

Lawmakers last month passed into law another bill, sponsored by Rep. Paul DeMarco, R-Homewood, that requires legislators, statewide officials, Cabinet members, lobbyists and local officials to attend Ethics Commission-provided training sessions on the ethics law.

The first training session for lobbyists was today, attracting a crowd that included Paul Hubbert, executive secretary of the Alabama Education Association, and Joe Fine, whose lobbying firm has represented ExxonMobil and other giant companies.

Other sessions for lobbyists are scheduled Feb. 23 and March 29. Any lobbyist who doesn't attend a training program will be barred from lobbying the Legislature or other parts of government. Sumner said 654 people had registered as lobbyists at the end of 2010.

Sen. Bryan Taylor, R-Prattville, sat in on today's session. ''I think it was historic for us to be here and see some of the most powerful lobbyists in the state sit and listen to a class on ethics," he said.